419 scam: "Mr. Steven Watson"<ganna_happy@ntline.net> ATTENTION PLEASE

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Steven Watson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <acccountuser09@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 01:07:44 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE

Good Day,

I am Mr. Steven Watson UN Diplomatic Agent Under Ghana Commercial Bank
Ltd. I decided to contact you because of the prevailing security report
reaching my office from the United Nation and the world bank group, which
made the federal government to mandate me to release your fund to you, as
BANK could not do it.

This is to inform you about our plan to send your fund to you via cash
delivery, this system will be easier for you and for us. We are going to
send your part payment of (Ten million, five hundred
thousand USD) to you via diplomatic courier service.

I have secured every needed document to cover the money. Note: The money
is coming through security proof boxes,The boxes are sealed with synthetic
nylon seal and padded with machine before it was locked. I will use my
position as the Director of Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd (GCBL). to release
this fund to you. The boxes are coming with a Diplomatic agent who will
accompany the boxes to your house address. All you needed to do now is to
confirm the following detail to me:

1.Full Name as it will appear on document:
2.Your full house address
3.Your identity such as, international passport or driver's license
4.Your contact phone numbers
5. Time to get you on the phone:

The Diplomat attached will travel with this required information's for the
delivery of your fund. He will call you immediately he arrives your
country's airport.I will let you know when these consignments will be
lifted, and Note: The diplomatic does not know the original contents of
the boxes. What was declared to them as the contents is Sensitive
Photographic Film Materials. I did not declare money to them please. If
they call you and ask you the contents please tell them the same thing
okay.

and I will let you know how far I have gone with the arrangement. I will
secure the Diplomatic immunity clearance certificate that will be tagged
on the boxes to make it stand as a diplomatic consignment, which i will
dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the consignments to enable
you access these consignments as soon as it is delivered to you.This
clearance will make it pass every custom checkpoint all over the world
without hitch.

Confirm the receipt of this message and send the requirements to me
immediately you receive this message. Please I need your urgent reply
because the boxes are scheduled to airlift as soon as we hear from you.

Best Regards,

Mr. Steven Watson
UN Diplomatic Agent Under Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd (GCBL)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam